Name any politician - ruling or opposition - who has not talked or assured the opening of Hussainiwala Border, fortrade and transit purpose which was closed in the aftermath of the 1971 India-Pakistan war and this happens often near the hot-up polling season, which once used to be a lifeline for traders engaged in import-export business.

On all
occasions, leaders from both the sides of the border have taken up
the issue of opening the Hussaniwala-Kasur border for ushering in a
new era of economic prosperity for the region. This issue has been
considered as one of the best point for the people of this area by
every candidate contesting the elections from the constituency.

In
Focus

Not
only this, each other party leader have been playing a cruel joke
with the people of Ferozepur who had been roaring for the opening of
the border but without any concrete or corporeal success so and he
opening of Hussainiwala border has been hanging fire for the last
more than four decades.

In
fact, the border was closed after 1971 Indo-Pak war despite the fact
that Ferozepur is the nearest to the border and had requisite
infrastructure to facilitate the trans-border trade but it had never
been a priority for the Centre or State except speaking on the dais
to allure the people especially during the election days.

Since
Fazilka was also a part of Ferozepur District earlier, the leaders
have to speak for opening of both the borders - Hussainiwala in
Ferozepur and Suleman in Fazilka when the Wagah Border in Amritsar,
is already functioning for trade and immigration purposes.

On one
occasion, Parminder Singh Pinki, Congress MLA from Ferozepur had said
that he was not against the opening of the Fazilka border but the
Deputy Chief Minister should not extend a step-motherly treatment to
the people of Ferozepur by asking the Union Government to open the
Fazilka border only.

In the
past also on number of occasions, it has been raised several times in
the parliament but to no avail. The people of Malwa community has
been anxious for the re-opening of the trade route as they feel that
further delay will severely affect their business besides affecting
the future of the lakhs of people in the border belt of Punjab.

Presently,
most of the trade that is taking place between Punjab and Pakistan is
through Mumbai or Dubai, which increased the cost considerably.
Perishable goods like vegetables cannot be shipped. Besides onion and
potato, there is a great demand for green chilies, ginger and other
such commodities in Pakistan, which can safely be sent through the
Husssainiwala border.

Prior
to the closing of border, there used to be hustle-bustle on both the
sides of India and Pakistan rather a gaiety and festival like
atmosphere. The opening of the route would definitely bring
prosperity in the city near the borders.

Now
when the election days are in its peak, the visit of leaders have
again started assuring the opening of Hussainiwala border with a
condition, if re-elected. In other words, seeking vote on false
promises.

Recently,
Anand Sharma, Union Minister who had come to Guruharsahai to attend
rally in support of Sunil Kumar Jakhar Congress candidate for MP
elections from Ferozepur constituency have said, the spade work to
revive the vital trade link between the two neighbouring countries
has been done. Once opened, the link would bring a lot of business to
the region.

During
his visit, he counted the UPA-II achievements for giving credit of
increasing trade with Pakistan through the setting of the Integrated
Check Post (IPC) in Amritsar.

Since
he was seeking vote for Congress, he categorically mentioned that
there is little possibility of the link being reopened if the BJP
comes to power.

Even
the SAD-BJP candidate Sher Singh Ghubaya and AAP candidate Satnam Pal
Kamboj are claiming for opening of the border. What to say, even the
former BJP MLA Sukhpal Singh Nann had been harping on this issue.

One
thing is certain that the opening of this border will open the
floodgates of prosperity for lakhs of people of the Malwa belt with
the increase of prices of landed property and employment on
setting-up of transit cold-storages for import of perishable items.

The
older timers still say, 'Jiney Lahore nahi vekhiya, ohne zindgi
vich kujh nahi vekhiya' ? The persons who has not seen Lahore,
has seen nothing in his life, and it looks to be a dream for the
young generation to see the opening of Hussnainiwala border to visit
Lahore in Pakistan by crossing the border.

I
started from, you name any political leader who has not talked or
assured about the opening of the border but speak frankly that it is
not a decisive issue of the level of local politicians but has to be
decided at the Centre level keeping in view all the aspects of
security of the nation depending upon the relations between the two
countries.

The
famous idiom "Pancha da keha sar mathe te, paranala othe da othe" - Respect what people say but have our own way - befits well in the
case of non-opening of Hussainiwala.